Lighter unit and mounting therefor



2 1934- M. E. BERNHARDT LIGHTER UNIT AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. WAX f fiffi/wmfiar www- A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 27, 1934. M, E, BE NHA DT 1,982,493

LIGHTER UNIT AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' IN V EN TOR.

WAX BMW/MR0?" BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention has general relation to lighters of the type which employs an abrasive wheel in frictional engagement with an element of pyrophoric materialfor producing a shower of sparks 8 upon each actuation of the wheel so as to ignite a wick or tinder, and refers more particularly to an improved means for mounting and actuating a lighter of the indicated character so as to provide a novel and attractive assemblage.

The invention resides in a mounting for a lighter unit of the character set forth, which is constructed in such a manner as topermit of the removable association of said lighterunit with a base which may be in the form of a receptacle for cigars, cigarettes or the like.

The invention further embodies a mounting for a lighter unit of the type specified which includes a hinged lid together with coacting means on the lighter unit and the lid by virtue of which the opening and closing of the lid effects the ignition of the wick or tinder and the extinguishing of the flame.

More specifically, the invention is directed to a lighter unit which includes a pivoted passed center actuator arm and a pivoted cover or lid for the lighter unit mounting having a cam which coacts with the actuator arm to effect the past center movement thereof upon opening and closing of the lid.

As a further feature, the invention makes provision for interengageable means on the lid and the actuator arm which function to limit the opening of the lid and to maintain the cam in juxtaposition to the arm so as to insure proper 351 coaction of the cam with the arm as the lid is moved to closed position.

With the above enumerated and other-objects and advantages inview, the invention is set forth in more detail inthe following specification and v accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, one form of the invention, while the appended claims cover other embodimentswhich fall within the purview of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a lighter assemblage constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the parts in closed relation.

Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary view with the parts in opened relation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 33 in Fig; 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 4-4 55v in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the lighter unit, which, is. designated generally by the reference character, A, includes a fuel reservoir 8 having a wick 9 protruding from the upper end thereof and a holder 10 for a pyrophoric element 11, which holder is arranged within a channel shaped cover 12 secured to and disposed alongside of the reservoir with the element 11 exposed from the upper end of the holder 10 and located within the cover 12 in close proximity to the wick 9.

The lighter unit further includes an abrasive wheel 13 which is mounted for turning movement on a shaft 14 extending through spaced ears 15- formed at the upper end of the channel shaped cover 12 so that the abrasive wheel is positioned for frictional engagement with thepyrophoric element 11. The abrasive wheel is provided with ratchet teeth 16 on one of its side faces and a ratchet disc 17 is mounted on the shaft 14 to turn the wheel 13 therewith in one direction and to freely ratchet over the teeth of said wheel when the ratchet'di'sc' is turned in the opposite direction. p

A member 18 having a snuffer cup 19 is mounted for swinging movement on the shaft 14 and the ratchet disc 17 is formed with a lug 20 with which lug the member 18 engages to effect the turning of the ratchet disc upon swinging movement of said member. A bifurcated actuator arm 21, is provided having furcations 22 which 5 straddle the member 18 and which furcations are fulcrumed on the shaft 14 so as to support said arm for swinging movement. The furcations are. provided with aligned slots 23 through which extends yoke pin 24, the terminals of which yoke pin protrude beyond the outer sides of the furcations. Coiled contractile springs 25 under tension are connected at their upper ends to said protruding terminals of the yoke pin and are anchored at their lower ends as at 26 to the cover 12, 5 while the medial portion of the yoke pin 24 is caused to bear against the top surface of the member 18 as shown in Fig. 1 by the action of the contractile springs 25.

Under this construction and arrangement, it will be observed that as the actuator arm 21 is swung from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the yoke pin 24 engaging the member 18, swings said member therewith until the pin passes dead center, which 5 is indicated by the broken line a:--r, whereupon the springs then effect a rapid movement of the actuator arm and element 18, and through the lug 20 of the ratchet disc, a rapid turning of the abrasive Wheel 13 with the ratchet disc so that the periphery of the wheel moves over the pyrophoric element, while in frictional engagement therewith to produce the sparks for igniting the wick. 1

The mounting for the lighter unit, which is designated generally by the reference character B, comprises a base plate through which the upper end of the fuel reservoir 8 and the holder 10 and its cover 12 extend and to which the reservoir is anchored. The base plate is cut away as at 31, adjacent the holder, to provide an opening through which the springs 25 extend and toafford a clearance for the swinging motion of the springs. The mounting includes a lid 32 which is hinged to an extension formed-into; a pintle roll through which pintle roll. and through spaced pintle ears 34 ontlredid, a'hinge pin 35 extends. The lid 32 is of inverted cup or dome shaped formation and has provided on the interior thereof, a curved concave cam face 36, one end of which terminates ina stop lug. 37 and the other end of which terminates in a depending post '38 into which .there is threadedly engaged a shank 39 for a screw having a head 40 which functions as an adjustable trip which is designedto engage with the free outer end of arm downwardly to. the position illustrated in outer free end of the actuator arm so as to insure Fig. 2, where a nose 41', at the outer free end of the actuator arm, engages with the stop lug 37 of the lid to limit its opening movement and to retain the cam surface 36 in juxtaposition to the proper coaction .of the cam surface therewith when the lid is moved to closed position.

The closing movement of' the lid 32 causes the cam surface .36 to engage with. the outer free end of'the actuator arm'21 andjby av camming action Gii of which. the lighter may be conveniently held receive cigars, cigarettes or the like.

swing the same upwardly and to the left from the position illustrated in'Fig. 2, to a point pastdead center where. the springs complete the" final movement of the actuator arm to theposition illustrated in Fig. 1, This causes the ratcheting of the cam disc 17. over the teeth of the abrasive wheel 13. and. at the sametime moves the snuffer cup 19 over the wick to extinguish the flame, as illustrated in. Fig. 1 of. the drawings.

The assemblage further includes a. base designated generally by the reference character C and which, in. the present instance, is in the form of a stein, although any other suitable. type of receptacle may be provided, which is adapted to The base plate. 30 of the mounting. B is removably associated. with the upper opened end of the base C in any desired manner so that the mounting serves as a cover therefonbut as illustrated, the means employed is in the form of a plurality of depending spring fingers 45. which frictionally engage within the upper open end of the base C. The base C"'is preferably provided with a handle D and. the lid 32,, with a thumb piece 46,.by virtue and actuatedby grasping the handle D with the fingers. and employing the thumb on the thumb piece $6. to open andclose the lid. Incidentally.

i the lid, when open, functions in. the manner of a, shield for protecting, the lighted wick against being. extinguished. by drafts.

What. is claimed is: I. A mounting for. a lighter unit having. a spring operated. past, center. actuator arm, including a plate to which the lighter unit is anchored, a lid pivotally connected to the plate, and means on the lid engageable with the actuator arm for moving the arm past center to ignite the lighter upon opening of the lid.

2. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated past center actuator arm and a snuffer movable by the arm, including a plate to which the lighter unit. isanchored, a lid. pivotally connected to the plate and means on the lid engageable with the arm for moving the same past center to cause the snuffer to extinguish the lighter when the lid is moved to closed relation.

3. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated pastcenter actuator arm and a snuiier movable by the arm, said mounting including a base plate to which the lighter unit is secured,

a lid hinged to the base plate, means on the lid engageable with the actuator arm for moving-the arm past center to ignite the lighter upon-opening of the lid, and means on. the. lid engageable with the arm for moving the same. past center to cause the snuffer to extinguish the lighter when the lid is moved to. closed'rel'ation.

4. Amounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated past center actuator arm and a snufier movable by the arm, said mounting. including. a base plate towhich thel'ighter unit is secured, a lid hinged to the base plate, means on the lid engageable with the actuator arm for moving. the arm past center to ignite the lighter uponv opening of'the lid, and cam means on the inside face of the lid engageable with the end edge of the arm for moving the same .past center to cause the snuffer to extinguish. the lighter when the lid is moved to closed relation.

5. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated. past center actuator arm and a snuffer movable by the arm, said mounting including a base plate to which the lighter unit is. secured, a lid hinged to the base plate, a trip on the lid engageable with the actuator arm for moving. the arm past center in one direction to ignite the lighter upon opening of the lid, and cam means on the lid'engageabl'e with the arm for moving the same pastcenter in the opposite direction to cause the snuffer to extinguish the lighter when the lid is moved to closed relation.

6. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated pastcenter actuator arm and a snuffer movable by the arm, including a plate to which the lighter unit is anchored, a. lid pivotally connected to theplate and cam means onthe inside facev of the lid engageable with the end edge of the arm for moving the same past center to cause the snufier to extinguish the lighter when the lid: is moved to closed relation.

7. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated past center actuator arm, includinga plate to which. the lighter unit is anchored, a lid pivotaly mounted for relative swinging movement with reference. to the plate, means on the lid engageable with the actuator arm for moving the arm past center to. ignite the lighter upon opening of the lid. and means carried by the plate adapted to removably support the same in an open-ended receptacle and the lighter in upright relation.

8. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated actuator arm, including a plate to which the lighter unit is anchored, alid pivotally connected to the plate, means on the lid engageable with the arm for moving. the same to cause the lighter to function and means. carried by the plate adapted to frictionally engage against; the inside surface of an open-ended receptacle for detachably connecting the same in covering: relation with the receptacle.

9. In combination, a lighter unit including a spring operated past center actuator arm, a. mounting for said lighter unit including a plate to which the lighter unit is anchored, a lid hinged. to the plate and means on said lid engageable with. the actuator arm for effecting the actuation of said lighter unit when the lid is moved to opened. relation, a base opened at the top and defining a. receptacle for cigars, cigarettes and the like, and means on the mounting for detachably connecting the mounting in coveringrelation with the base,

10. In combination, a lighter unit including a spring operated past center actuator arm and a mounting for said lighter unit including a plate to which the lighter unit is anchored, a lid hinged to the plate, means on said lid engageable with the actuator arm for effecting the actuation of said lighter unit when the lid is moved to opened relation, and a stop on the lid engageable by themovement of nite the lighter upon opening of the lid, cam' means on the lid engageable with the arm for moving the same past center in the opposite direction to cause the snuffer to extinguish the lighter when the lid is moved to closed relation, and a stop on the lid engageable by the actuator .arm to limit the opening movement of the lid and to retain the free end of the actuator arm in position to be engaged by the cam means when the lid is moved to closed position.

12. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated past center actuator arm, including a base for supporting the lighter unit, a hingedly associated lid, and means on the lid engageable with the actuator arm for moving the arm past center to ignite the lighter upon opening of the lid.

13. A mounting for a lighter unit having a spring operated past center actuator arm, including a base for supporting the lighter, a hinged- .ly associated lid, a snufier, and means on the lid engageable with the arm for moving the same past center to cause the snufier to extinguish the lighter when the lid is moved to closed relation.

14. In combination, a lighter unit, including a spring operated past center actuator arm and a mounting for said lighter unit including a base for supporting the lighter unit, a hingedly associated lid, means on the lid engageable with the actuator arm for moving the same past center for efiecting the actuation of the lighter unit when the lid is moved to opened relation, and a stop on the lid engageable by the actuator arm to limit the opening movement of the lid.

15. In combination, a lighter unit, including a spring operated actuator arm movable to effect the ignition of 'the lighter unit, a mounting for said lighter unit including a base, a hingedly associated lid, and means on the lid engageable with the arm for initially moving the arm upon opening of the lid to a position to be moved by the spring to ignite the lighter unit.

MAX E. BERNHARDT. 

